Don’t talk to Marty St. Louis about the future or, for that matter, about the past either. Not that the Lightning star right wing isn’t proud of his many accomplishments – he certainly is. Or that he’s not concerned with what the future may bring – everyone, especially a parent of three small children like St. Louis is, looks to the future with a combination of hope and trepidation.

Related News

But for Marty St. Louis, the present is what matters the most, and he’s totally focused on the “now”, on this moment and on this season. That’s the recipe that St. Louis employs to maintain his high level of play against some of the top competition in the world.

When last season concluded St. Louis joined his teammate, Steven Stamkos, as a member of the Canadian squad at the 2009 World Championships in Switzerland. Although the Canadians finished second to the Russian team, St. Louis excelled, leading all players in a number of statistical categories, including scoring and assists.

After a brief stop at his off-season home in Greenwich, Connecticut, St. Louis headed for Las Vegas and the NHL Awards Show at the Palms Hotel, where he was a finalist for the prestigious Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s most gentlemanly player. The award went to Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings for the fourth straight year, but St. Louis enjoyed himself regardless.

“We were only there for 36 hours,” St. Louis recalled. “We stayed at the Palms Hotel, gambled a little bit and had a pretty good time.”

Then it was back to Greenwich for St. Louis, which is where his wife Heather is from and where her family still resides. Beyond a trip to Vermont to attend the wedding of a friend, the remainder of the off-season for St. Louis was spent working out with his long-time trainer, Ben Prentiss.

The camp took place in Calgary August 24 – 27, where St, Louis competed against 45 other top NHL players for one of 23 roster spots on Canada’s entry for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Final selections will not be made until January 1, but St. Louis did get the opportunity to skate on what must be considered one of the top lines – with Sidney Crosby of the Penguins as center and Rick Nash from the Columbus Bluejackets on left wing.

“That was fun,” St. Louis said. “You never know how many chances you will get to play with players like that.

But the summer wasn’t all hard work and conditioning. For relaxation, St. Louis tried to play golf once a week, and when they weren’t in camp or busy with a myriad of activities, he spent as much time as possible with his kids, Ryan (6), Lucas (4) and Mason (19 months).

A nice off-season, but it’s now in the past for St. Louis, and the past is now left behind as he gears up for a new season.

“I just try to think about right now and live in the moment,” St. Louis reminds you.